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• first name
  first name

  noun

  given name.
• first-name
  first-name

  adjective

  of or relating to one's first, or given, name; familiar; intimate.

first name

¹ American  

noun

1. given name.

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first-name ² American  

[furst-neym, furst-neym] / ˈfɜrstˌneɪm, ˈfɜrstˈneɪm /

adjective

1. of or relating to one's first, or given, name; familiar; intimate.

   They were on a first-name basis soon after meeting.

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verb (used with object)

first-named, first-naming

1. to address (someone) by their first name, especially as a sign of informality or familiarity.

   The boss doesn't like the employees to first-name her.

first name British  

noun

1. Also called: Christian name.   forename.   given name.  a name given to a person at birth, as opposed to a surname

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Etymology

Origin of first name¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50

Origin of first-name²

First recorded in 1300–50

Example Sentences

Known only by his first name, Bokejon, or simply Tom, he was one of about 2,000 Soviet prisoners and forced labourers brought to the island of Jersey to build Nazi fortifications.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

And we all know her first name, because she made sure we’d never forget.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

He asked that only his first name be used because of sensitivities around security issues in the kingdom.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

His girlfriend — identified in court only by her first name, Victoria — testified she was in the bedroom alone when she heard the sound of someone entering the incorrect code to the front door.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Sensing this, they had always called her by her first name.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• given name